Gustavo Santaolalla	Sheryl Crow	Seal

Among the Best Original Score contenders was 2006 Golden Globe winner Gustavo Santaolalla, who picked up a nomination for his score to the Brad Pitt thriller, Babel. Composers Alexandre Desplat (SACEM) and Clint Mansell rounded out the score category, with the music to The Painted Veil and The Fountain, respectively.

Pop superstars Seal and Sheryl Crow also made the nominees list, with Seal's "A Father's Way" from Will Smith's The Pursuit of Happyness earning a nod for Best Original Song. Crow, who wrote the music and lyrics to "Try Not to Remember" from Home of the Brave, is also up for Best Original Song.

Additional Best Original Song entries include the Anne Preven co-write "Listen" from the highly anticipated Dreamgirls soundtrack, and "Never Gonna Break My Faith" from Bobby, with music and lyrics co-written by Eliot Kennedy (PRS).

London Awards Event Photos

Ray Davies: BMI Icon Feature Story

London Awards Song List

Davies is co-founder, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Kinks, one of the most long-lived and influential rock groups of the British Invasion. As the band's chief songwriter, he is the pen behind such Kinks classics as "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," "A Well Respected Man," "Waterloo Sunset," "Tired of Waiting For You," "Sunny Afternoon," "Lola" and "Come Dancing."

In a written tribute to Davies that was read at the event, Who guitarist Pete Townshend called Davies "the true laureate of British popular music." In addition to Townshend, who credits his sound to the 40-plus year music vet, artists as diverse as Morrissey, Blur and Oasis also claim Davies as their main influence.

"Listen to Your Heart," written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson, and published by Jimmy Fun Music (all STIM), was named Song of the Year and received one of the organization's highest accolades, the Robert S. Musel Award. Recorded by Belgium-based duo D.H.T., the song was originally a No. 1 hit for Roxette in 1989 and received the BMI Dance Award at last year's ceremony.

"Feel Good Inc.," co-written by Gorillaz members Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (both PRS), along with De La Soul's David Jolicoeur, was named BMI's College Song of the Year for tallying the most performances on American college radio. The Grammy Award-winning hit is from the Gorillaz' Demon Days CD, which went double platinum in the U.S. and triple platinum in the U.K.

The BMI Dance Award went to "Everytime We Touch," written by Stuart MacKillop, Maggie Reilly (both PRS) and Peter Risavy (GEMA), and published by Mambo/Sony/ATV Music Publishing Germany (GEMA). The infectious tune by Euro-dance trio Cascada was a worldwide smash, including in America, where it topped the dance charts and made it into the Top Ten of the pop charts.

"Million-Air" certificates were also presented throughout the evening in recognition of those songs that have achieved over three million U.S. radio and television performances - or the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay. Topping the list was the theme to Mondo Cane, "More," which earned a seven million performance award for songwriters Marcello Ciorciolini (SIAE), Norman Newell (PRS), Nino Oliviero (SIAE) and Riz Ortolani (SIAE). "You're Still the One," written and recorded by 2004 BMI London Awards Song of the Year winner Shania Twain (PRS), reached the six million performance plateau. Other "Million-Air" recipients included Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, the Bee Gees, Sting, Seal, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel and Paul Rodgers of Free (all PRS).]]> 2006-10-03T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334631 Artists, Adams, William, Adams, Yolanda, Aguilera, Christina, Audio Adrenaline, Audioslave, Austin, Dallas, Ayala, Ramon, Ball, Marcia, Barretto, Ray, Big & Rich, Black Eyed Peas, Blanchard, Terence, Blue Highway, Bolcom, William, Boyer, Peter, Brooks & Dunn, Bush, Sam, Carey, Mariah, Carr, Kurt, Casting Crowns, Cerf, Christopher, Chapman, Steven Curtis, Cherryholmes, Childs, Billy, Chirino, Willy, Clapton, Eric, Clark-Cole, Dorinda, Common, Cooder, Ry, Copeland, Stewart, Crow, Sheryl, Cunliffe, Bill, D'Rivera, Paquito, Daft Punk, Daniels, Charlie, De La Soul, Death Cab For Cutie, Del McCoury Band, The, DiFranco, Ani, Dixie Chicks, Douglas, Dave, Douglas, Jerry, Du Prez, John, Elfman, Danny, Eminem, Fall Out Boy, Floetry, Foo Fighters, Foster, David, Foxx, Jamie, Franklin, Aretha, Franklin, Kirk, Game, The, Gatlin, Larry, Gil, Gilberto, Gill, Vince, Golijov, Osvaldo, Gorillaz, Guy, Buddy, Haggard, Merle, Hancock, Herbie, Hanna, Jeff, Hill, Faith, Holland, Dave, Houghton, Israel, Hummon, Marcus, Hunt, Van, Idle, Eric, Intocable, Jamiroquai, Jars of Clay, Jerkins, Rodney, Jones, Norah, Keane, Kee, John P., Keith, Toby, Kelly, R., King, B.B., Krauss, Alison, La Tropa F, LaBelle, Patti, Lawrence, Donald, Legend, John, Linkin Park, Los Lonely Boys, Maroon 5, McBride, Martina, McClinton, Delbert, McClurkin, Donnie, McGehee, Vicky, McGraw, Tim, McLachlan, Sarah, Metheny, Pat, Miguel, Luis, Mo, Keb, Molotov, Mos Def, Munizzi, Martha, Murphy, Walter, Nelson, Willie, Neptunes, The, Nickelback, Orishas, Palmieri, Eddie, Prine, John, Queens of the Stone Age, Rascal Flatts, Redman, Joshua, Rollins, Sonny, Seal, Shakira, Shorter, Wayne, Souza, Luciana, Sturr, Jimmy, Sugarland, System of a Down, Turtle Island String Quartet, Urban, Keith, Vega, Louie, Vincent, Rhonda, West, Kanye, White Stripes, The, Williams, John, Wilson, Brian, Winans, Bebe, Winans, CeCe, Winter, Paul, Yazbek, David, Ying Yang Twins 48th Annual Grammy Awards with eight nods each when contenders were announced at a star-studded press conference held December 8 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Their three-way tie pushed the total number of BMI-nominated songwriters and artists to an astounding 70% in the general fields.

Mariah Carey	Kanye West	John Legend

Mariah Carey's multi-platinum comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, and its smash single "We Belong Together," helped the pop singer score three of the most coveted Grammy nominations: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The hit ballad also picked up mentions for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while Mimi added Best Contemporary R&B Album to Carey's haul.

Presenters for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards nominations included BMI songwriter/artists John Legend, CeCe Winans, Mariah Carey, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and Patti LaBelle. Photo by S. Lovekin/WireImage

Rapper Kanye West continued his red hot streak, also earning nominations in the Album and Record of the Year categories with his sophomore release Late Registration and the hit "Gold Digger," respectively. He will compete against himself for the Album of the Year title as a producer on Carey's disc. As a songwriter, West will battle for the Best Rap Song crown with his "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," as well as Best R&B Song as a co-writer on the Alicia Keys track "Unbreakable."

Black Eyed Peas	Brooks & Dunn

Soul singer John Legend is up for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for his debut Get Lifted, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Song of the Year for "Ordinary People," which he also co-wrote. Legend joins his mentor Kanye West and rapper Common on the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ticket with "They Say."

Casting Crowns	Common

Coming in with six nominations was Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas who, as a songwriter, has a shot at Song of the Year and Best R&B Song as co-writer of Legend's "Ordinary People" and Best Rap Song for the Peas' hit "Don't Phunk with My Heart." The band is also up for Best Rap and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Death Cab for Cutie	Foo Fighters

In addition to Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Common earned three other mentions, including Best Rap Album for Be. Four nods also went to Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Billy Childs and BMI producer/songwriters the Neptunes, who have production credits on two Album of the Year nominees -- Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi and Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

The Game	Gorillaz	John Williams

Earning three nominations apiece were Sheryl Crow, with Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Good is Good"), Best Pop Vocal Album (Wildflower) and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the single "Building Bridges," featuring Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill; Eminem (Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album); and film composer John Williams, up for Best Score for Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as well as for Best Instrumental Composition for both "Anakin's Betrayal" (from Revenge of the Sith) and "The Ferry Scene" (from the War of the Worlds soundtrack).

Maroon 5	Norah Jones	Sheryl Crow

Double nominees included rappers The Game and T.I., songwriter Marcus Hummon, singer Norah Jones and gospel diva CeCe Winans.

Other BMI songwriters and artists collecting Grammy nominations were Christina Aguilera, Dallas Austin, Casting Crowns, Eric Clapton (PRS), Death Cab for Cutie, Paquito D'Rivera, Danny Elfman, Fall Out Boy, Osvaldo Golijov, Dave Holland Big Band, Intocable, Keane (PRS), Maroon 5, Sugarland, Ying Yang Twins, and BMI Icons Charlie Daniels and Brian Wilson.

Sugarland		T.I.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 8.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Nominees:

8 NOMINATIONS
Mariah Carey
John Legend
Kanye West

6 NOMINATIONS
William Adams

4 NOMINATIONS
Billy Childs
Common
Foo Fighters
Gorillaz (PRS)
The Neptunes

3 NOMINATIONS
Yolanda Adams
The Black Eyed Peas
Sheryl Crow
De La Soul
Eminem
Herbie Hancock
Faith Hill
Alison Krauss & Union Station
John Williams

2 NOMINATIONS
Bobby Boyd
Brooks & Dunn
Andrew Coleman
Andrew Dawson
Dixie Chicks
The Game
Michael Giacchino
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Norah Jones
Delbert McClinton
Donnie McClurkin
Joel Moss
Willie Nelson
Al Schmitt
Fat Man Scoop
T.I.
The White Stripes
CeCe Winans

MORE NOMINEES
Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill
Christina Aguilera
Trey Anastasio
Audio Adrenaline
Audioslave
John August
Dallas Austin
Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte
Marcia Ball
Ray Barretto
Steve Berkowitz
Big & Rich
Terence Blanchard
Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Blue Highway
Printz Board
William Bolcom
Peter Boyer
Solomon Burke
Burning Spear (PRS)
Sam Bush
Gary Calamar
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels Orishas (SACEM)
Kurt Carr
Casting Crowns
Christopher Cerf
Steven Curtis Chapman
Cherryholmes
The Chieftains (IMRO)
Willy Chirino
Eric Clapton (PRS)
Dorinda Clark-Cole
Conjunto Progreso
Ry Cooder
Stewart Copeland
The Crabb Family
Robert Cray
Bill Cunliffe
Rivers Cuomo
Daft Punk (PRS)
Charlie Daniels
Day of Fire
Death Cab for Cutie
Deep Dish
Mos Def
Jack De Johnette
The Del McCoury Band
Ani DiFranco
Jerry Douglas
Dave Douglas
Paquito D'Rivera
John Du Prez (PRS)
Jerry Duplessis
Nokie Edwards
Danny Elfman
Ahmet Ertegun
Bill Evans
Fall Out Boy
Sammy Figueroa
Béla Fleck
Floetry
David Foster
Jamie Foxx
Aretha Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Carlos Franzetti
Larry Gatlin
Joachim Garraud (SACEM)
Gilberto Gil
Vince Gill
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Osvaldo Golijov
The Grascals
Grits
Buddy Guy
Merle Haggard
John Hammond
Raiatea Helm
Dave Holland Big Band
Israel Houghton
Van Hunt
Eric Idle (PRS)
Intocable
Jamiroquai (PRS)
Jars of Clay
The Jazz Chamber Trio
Rodney Jerkins
Eric Johnson
George Jones
The Jordanaires
Ledward Ka'apana
Keane (PRS)
John P. Kee
Garison Keillor
Toby Keith
R. Kelly
B.B. King
Kitaro
Kraftwerk (GEMA)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (SAMRO)
Las 3 Divas
La Secta Allstar
The Last Poets
La Tropa F
Donald Lawrence
Ricky Lewis
The Light Crust Doughboys
Lil Wayne
Harold Lily
Aaron Lindsey
Linkin Park
Little Joe
Los Lonely Boys
Los Pleneros de la 21
Andre Lyon
Maroon 5
Joeworn Martin
Martina McBride
Delbert McClinton
Vicky McGehee
Tim McGraw
Sarah McLachlan (SOCAN)
Meat Beat Manifesto
Pat Metheny Group
Luis Miguel
Mingus Big Band
Ministry
Keb Mo
Molotov
Rick Moranis (SOCAN)
Mudvayne
Martha Munizzi
Walter Murphy
Meshell Ndegeocello
North Mississippi Allstars
The Oak Ridge Boys
Claus Ogerman (GEMA)
Walter Ostanek (SOCAN)
George Pajon, Jr.
Eddie Palmieri
John Prine
Queens of the Stone Age
Rascal Flatts
Joshua Redman Elastic Band
Sonny Rollins
The Royal Jesters
Eddie Santiago
Marvin Sapp
Seal (PRS)
José Serebrier
Shakira
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Ron Sluga
Omar Sosa
Luciana Souza
Jimmy Sturr
Sugarland
Tierney Sutton
System of a Down
Ali Farka Touré (BUMDA)
Tiempo Libre
Turtle Island String Quartet
Keith Urban
Bebo Valdés
Marcello Valenzano
Louie Vega
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
Brian Wilson
BeBe Winans
George Winston
Paul Winter Consort
Hugh Wolff
David Yazbek
Ying Yang Twins

Pop Awards Photo Slideshow

2005 BMI Pop Awards Song List

Paul Simon's BMI Awards List

2005 Lennon Scholarship Winners

Del Bryant, President & CEO, and Barbara Cane, Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, hosted the dinner event. The writers and publishers of the 50 most performed songs of the past year were recognized, plus the overall song, songwriter and publisher winners. A highlight of the gala, staged at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, was a tribute to songwriter/artist Paul Simon, who was named a BMI Icon.

3 Doors Down	Lil Jon

"Here Without You" won the title of BMI Pop Song of the Year, with songwriters Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts of the group 3 Doors Down accepting; this distinction is given to the song tallying the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Published by Escatawpa Songs and Songs of Universal, Inc. and included on 3 Doors Down's Republic/Universal CD Away From the Sun, "Here Without You" has already been certified as a BMI Million-Air (with two million broadcast performances) and was previously honored as BMI's 2004 Most Performed Song on College Radio. Lead singer Brad Arnold was also named Songwriter of the Year at the 2002 BMI Pop Awards.

Nickelback	Paul Simon

Lil Jon wrote four songs on the Most Performed List of 50 to collect the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year crown. The songs earning him the title were "Damn!" (YoungBloodZ featuring Lil Jon), "Freek-A-Leek" (Petey Pablo), "Get Low" (Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring the Ying Yang Twins) and "Yeah!" (Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon).

Of the 88 songwriters who received 2005 BMI Pop Awards, two were triple winners: Chad Kroeger (SOCAN) of Nickelback and Sham. Other writer/artists earning awards included Michelle Branch, Five for Fighting, Linkin Park, Sarah McLachlan, Pete Townshend (PRS), Shania Twain, Maroon 5, Los Lonely Boys, R. Kelly, Seal (PRS), Lil' Kim, Evanescence, the White Stripes, Fountains of Wayne, Mario Winans and the Black Eyed Peas.

Paul Simon was saluted as a BMI Icon for his "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." In a career dating back to the 1950s, Paul Simon has established himself among the best and most popular songwriters of the rock era. His songs have bookmarked moments in the lives of millions, whether with words of love, longing, humor, politics or, above all, hope. He has incorporated the rhythms of his native New York with those from as far away as Brazil and South Africa.

For his efforts, he is a 12-time Grammy winner, a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee (as Simon & Garfunkel and as a solo artist), the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, an Oscar nominee, an Emmy Award winner, and the much-honored co-founder of the Children's Health Fund. His songwriting catalog has earned 39 BMI Awards -- including multiple citations for "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough Fair" and "The Sound of Silence" -- and amassed nearly 75 million broadcast airplays, according to BMI surveys.

After a video tribute, the musical salute to Simon featured performances by 2004 Icon recipient Brian Wilson (who sang "The Sound of Silence"), British sensation Joss Stone ("Mother and Child Reunion"), Adam Levine and James Valentine of the Grammy-winning band Maroon 5 ("Homeward Bound") and soul gospel diva Yolanda Adams ("Bridge Over Troubled Water").

Simon enters the elite company of previously praised BMI Icons, including Bill Anderson, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Loretta Lynn, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, Al Green, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson.

EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./EMI-Stone Agate Music), with 11 award songs, claimed the BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize, given to the publishing concern with the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. EMI's winning songs were "100 Years," "Bright Lights," "Damn!," "Freek-A-Leek," "Get Low," "Heaven," "I Don't Wanna Know," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Into You," "Unwell" and "Where Is the Love." EMI Chairman & CEO Martin Bandier accepted the crystal trophy.

Other publishers garnering three or more awards were Universal Music Publishing (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc./Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.); Warner/Chappell Music Group (Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Rick's Music, Inc.); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Loco De Amor Music/Zomba Songs Inc.; and White Rhino Music.

In addition to Song of the Year "Here Without You," BMI recognized the performance achievements of two other songs. "Someday" by Nickelback earned Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for songwriters Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Ryan Vikedal of the group and publisher Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," the most performed composition in BMI's repertoire of 6.5 million musical works, was certified as a 10 Million-Air, meaning it has been broadcast 10 million times. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and published by ABKCO Music, Inc., Mother Bertha Music, Inc., and Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.

Phil Spector	Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Another special presentation was the announcement of the First Place winner of the 2005 John Lennon Scholarship Awards. Sydney Price, a 17-year-old junior at Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in

The BMI Icon honors a creator who has been a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers”; Santana was so honored at the organization’s Latin Awards, held April 21 at The Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, the first time the awards have been held in that city.

The Mexican native first came to the United States in the early 1960s, arriving in San Francisco as an established professional guitarist. Combining his talents with several like-minded players, he formed the Santana Blues Band in 1966, with the band’s name shortened to Santana soon afterwards. A high-profile four-night stand at the city’s legendary Fillmore West in 1968 led to a contract with Columbia Records, with its self-titled first release coming out the same month as the band’s Woodstock gig. Santana stayed on the charts for two years, led by singles “Evil Ways” and “Jingo.” Follow-up album Abraxas (1970) hit number one, spawning the Top 10 hits “Black Magic Woman” and “Oye Como Va.” By the end of that year, the group had added its seventh member, guitarist Neal Schon (who, with original Santana member Gregg Rolie, would eventually leave to form Journey). Hit albums Santana III and Caravanserai followed.

By this time, Carlos Santana had become deeply involved with guru Sri Chinmoy, adopting the name “Devadip” (meaning “the eye, the lamp, and the light of God") and recording the album Love Devotion Surrender with fellow Chinmoy devotee John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. This project, along with parts of Caravanserai , represented a shift in Santana’s playing toward a more fluid, jazz style, a shift made even more obvious by 1974’s Illuminations , recorded with John Coltrane’s widow Alice.

Several group albums found the restless spirit trying on a number of styles (as well as an ever-shifting group of sidemen), resulting in such Top 40 singles as “Winning,” “Hold On,” “You Know That I Love You” and a cover of The Zombies’ “She’s Not There.” In 1987 he won his first Grammy Award (Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the title track of his solo album Blues for Salvador).

Following several other albums and record labels, in 1999 Santana signed with Arista Records, headed by Clive Davis, who had originally signed the group to Columbia.  The musical masterminds combined their talents to produce Supernatural , easily Santana’s biggest-selling album (10 million and counting), which won eight Grammys along the way (including Album of the Year and Record and Song of the Year for “Smooth,” his collaboration with matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas.

Supernatural’s all-star lineup strategy (which included Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, Dave Matthews and Wyclef Jean) was repeated with 2002’s Shaman , another best-seller whose guest lineup included Thomas, Michelle Branch, Seal and even Placido Domingo. (The album resulted in another Grammy, this time for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for the Branch-sung “The Game of Love.”) Those accomplishments were capped by Santana’s being named the Latin Grammys’ “Person of the Year” in 2004.

Of receiving that award — as well as the long list of other recognitions he’s received — Santana remains typically humble. “I’ve been repeating for a long time that I am a beam of light that comes from the mind of God,” he told the Associated Press; as a result, “I don’t have to squirm or interrupt people when they give me a compliment. I can say, ‘Thank you so much.  And I’m very happy that my presence can bring joy into your life.’”

Santana has also maintained his charitable work, donating over $2 million from his Shaman tour to fight AIDS in Africa.

And of course there’s the music: Santana is currently working on a number of projects, including an all-instrumental album and another collaborative effort that may include Sting and Los Lonely Boys. “It’s like seven to 10 things that I’m working on, but I’m not confused or scattered,” he says.

Not surprisingly, music has been a constant in the multi-talent’s life. “My brother Scott and I took classical piano lessons from the time we were five years old,” he says, “and by the time we were 10-12, we were playing African, Latin, Cuban music, rap and hip-hop, and in the church on Sundays.”

Growing up in the Brooklyn projects, he says, it was necessary to counterbalance musical prowess with a convincing street image. “Gang members would come up to my floor to listen what we were doing, and it might be Beethoven. That’s when I realized that music’s really a universal language.”

Eventually, Scott decided to teach music, but Mark continued to hone his writing and producing skills. By studying with producers like hip-hop icons Marley Marl and Eric B., Batson developed a style he describes as “figuring out what artists do and bringing out the best of them. I don’t have a personal sound; other producers have a trademark sound, and they get paid a lot of money to bring that sound to a record, but I adapt to what the artists need.”

The big breakthrough came with India Arie’s Acoustic Soul album, which earned seven Grammy nominations on its way to double platinum. Soon after, artists like G-Unit (50 Cent’s backing crew, for whom Batson has done various mixtape compilations), Hamilton and Seal started calling: “I wrote 40 songs with Seal in a four month period, and he’s somebody who might write 10 songs every few years.”

Batson’s latest projects include work on Arie’s next album and a remix of Sting’s “Stolen Car” featuring Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am. Working so constantly has become second nature for him, he says. “It’s really a matter of finding the lane where the artists drive … and sometimes I have to drive really fast.”

Pictured after the screening are BMI composer Aaron Zigman, BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross, director Nick Cassavetes, and the SCL's Laura Dunn.

Zigman made his feature film debut with the score to the critically-acclaimed drama, "John Q," also directed by Cassavetes starring Denzel Washington. He has also worked extensively as a music producer, arranger and/or writer for such recording artists as Christina Aguilera, Seal and Aretha Franklin.]]> 2004-06-15T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/233927 Artists, Seal, Train, Wilshire, Musical Styles, Rock, Musicworld, Hitmaker, Type, Important It's hard enough keeping a marriage together, let alone one in which husband and wife are partners in a rock group.

That's the task for the singer/songwriter duo of Micah and Lori Wilshire (rhymes with "fire"), whose debut album, New Universe , on Columbia Records, has spawned the multi-format radio hit, "Special."

The Wilshires aren't afraid of exploring romance in the Beatlesque "Without You," the yearning "In Your Arms" and "Tonight" (the latter two sporting classic Paul Buckmaster string arrangements). At the same time, like Buckingham-Nicks, Richard and Linda Thompson or Kantner-Slick, there's a feisty quality to Lori's powerful-but-earthy vocal style. On rockers like "Fool for You" and "I Know What You Did," Micah's crackling guitar becomes the musical equivalent to the quietly unassuming, but strongly supportive, mate.

In fact, the duo's marriage followed their musical relationship. "The moment we started singing together, we both knew our solo careers were over," says the Virginia-born Micah, meaning that in more ways than one. He first heard Houston native Lori while both were active on the Nashville club circuit. "I was just, like 'Holy crap!' She floored me."

After moving to L.A. in 2001, the two began recording demos, three of which ended up practically untouched on the album, including the first single, "Special," cut in a half-hour in their one-room apartment.

"That song was a picture of our life at the time," says Lori. "[The song]'Looking for a Hallelujah' is about finding your purpose, finding freedom and joy."

The duo is just now living out that dream, touring with Train and Seal and playing promotional radio shows around the country.

"I think everybody's looking over the horizon for a better place," says Lori. "What's important is what you go through along the way. You always have to struggle to make something great happen. But when you look back, you realize that's the most exciting part."

From the very beginning, the combination of Lori and Micah Wilshire has been something "special." And that's cause enough for a "hallelujah."

"When it was all said and done, it just wasn't good enough," the British-born soul singer remarks. "It took a while to accept that fact, and a while longer to regain my perspective. But I don't think I could have done this album without going through that experience. It allowed me to begin again, to rediscover what I loved about music and how to best express that love."

The longtime Los Angeles resident moved back to London to record the 11 alternately sultry, soulful and sensitive songs that make up Seal IV . "There's a certain grit to that city, an energy and immediacy that had inspired me from the beginning," he says. "I just wanted to make the connection to a place that had always served me well."

Adding fuel to the fire was Seal's reunion with long-time production partner Trevor Horn, who helped guide Seal to worldwide sales of over 12 million units via such instant classics as "Crazy," "Prayer for the Dying" and "Kiss From a Rose," named Song of the Year at the 1996 BMI London Awards, earning the organization's highest accolade, the Robert S. Musel Award. "Kiss From a Rose" was also the 1996 Grammy winner for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

"Trevor is a production genius of the old-school variety," Seal states. "He's got the discipline and dedication to keep obsessively focused on a verse, a chorus, a whole song or an entire album until it's absolutely the best it can be."

That approach is most readily apparent on horn-driven lead single "Waiting for You," a groove-ready tune that's making inroads on the pop charts, and on "Get It Together," an old-school r&b-flavored workout that's already a dance chart smash. Other notables include the clever wordplay of "Let Me Roll" and the emotive balladry that is "Loneliest Star."

Five years in the making (counting the aborted first try), Seal IV was very much a labor of love -- and one of which Seal is understandably proud. "You have to constantly dig deeper, pay the price and bear up under the pressure. You risk your health, your sanity and, in the end, there's no guarantee of success."

Still, he adds, "My songs are like kids. I love them all. I encourage them to grow, to reach their full potential, and then send them out into the world."

Tha Liks have built up a loyal fan base that shares the group's principal passions: booze, blunt and nice-to-know-ya', got-to-go casual sex. Although these themes might not win the group a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, listening to X.O. Experience from cover to cover it's easy to see why they remain popular. Clever hooks and interesting synth-based arrangements, which feature plenty of quasi-Asian riffs and ear-grabbing dissonances, give Tha Liks' raps a constantly shifting background. And the group members - J-Ro, Tash, and E-Swift - leaven their paeans to debauchery with humor and a touch of parody that softens the pounding tributes to drugs and alcohol featured on "Sickness," "Anotha Round" and "Best U Can," the first track off of X.O. Experience to receive wide airplay.

A self-contained group in the early days, Tha Liks have begun experimenting, and have included the work of outside producers and rapper Busta Rhymes (Bully Foot Skit) on X.O. Experience. Tireless performers, Tha Liks have traveled the globe to promote their work. Their lack of pretension and theiravailability to their fans have helped Tha Liks rise to a position of respect in the highly competitive world of rap.